Overview
- A security researcher, Derik Kauffman, disclosed on Friday that iOS contains a hashed, undisclosed 'graylist' that prevents the keyboard from offering autocomplete suggestions or reliable swipe‑typing for tens of thousands of words and phrases.
- Independent tests by Reuters and an independent recovery by security engineer Matt Suiche matched Kauffman’s findings and a public catalog called Swipeblocked has made the decoded lists accessible.
- The list mainly labels vulgar and offensive terms but also includes politically and culturally sensitive phrases in multiple languages, with reported English examples such as “dictator Trump,” “sleepy Joe,” “illegal immigrant,” and “covid was a hoax.”
- Apple says the filtering is meant to avoid inappropriate suggestions and that users can still type any word manually or override predictive text, but the company has not released the list or the rules used to build it.
- Researchers and digital‑rights groups warn the opaque, multilingual filtering can shape everyday communication, create inconsistent outcomes across languages, and they are urging Apple to offer clear disclosure and per‑user controls.